Ruddock thinks he'd do kids a favor by KO'ing Tyson

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- Donovan "Razor" Ruddock thinks a chance at fame and riches is a wonderful reason to slam a vicious left hook into Mike Tyson's chin during their June 28 rematch in Las Vegas, but there's another reason. He says he would like to rid the sports world of a poor role model.

"I don't like the way Mike Tyson talks, and I don't like the way he acts," Ruddock said. "As a matter of fact, I think it would be good to knock him out because of the young kids who look up to him. He's a bad example, but the kids coming up see him and don't know better. We have enough bad kids in the world. We don't need any more Mike Tysons."

Ruddock, who lost to Tyson in a controversial seventh-round technical knockout in March, found the hype that preceded the fight offensive. With the rematch one week away, he expects the hype to get nasty again.

"It's too bad," Ruddock said. "This fight doesn't need any hype. Mike Tyson can say what he wants. I'm not going to stoop to that level."

Tyson called Ruddock a transvestite before the last fight. Tyson also vowed: "I'll make you my girlfriend," and "I can't wait for you to kiss me with those big lips of yours."

Ruddock, a 27-year-old father of four, ended six weeks of workouts at his Lauderhill training camp June 9 and set up headquarters at Doolittle's gym in Las Vegas. Ruddock says Tyson's ugly outbursts motivate him. Tyson recently referred to contender Tommy Morrison as someone he would have forced to wash his underwear while in reform school.

"I don't want my kids to listen to the things Mike Tyson is saying," Ruddock said. "He wants me to be his girlfriend? I hope God smiles on me, and I knock him out so he won't say things like that anymore and kids won't listen."

The Tyson-Ruddock rematch is a test of power-punching contenders looking for the title shot against heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield. Ruddock (25-2-1) stands 6 feet 3 and 228 pounds. Tyson (40-1) is 5-11 and 217.

"Oh, my God, he punches like a mule," Tyson said after the first fight.

4 Referee Richard Steele stopped the fight at 2:22

the seventh round when Ruddock stumbled into the ropes at the end of a Tyson flurry. Ruddock raised his hands in disbelief. Ruddock insists he wasn't hurt and the fight was even, although all three judges had Tyson ahead on their scorecards.

Miles contends Steele not only stopped the fight early, but he allowed Tyson to hold and throw low blows. Ruddock's supporters say this fight will be different because Steele won't referee and because the mysterious injury to Ruddock's right arm is healed.

Ruddock relied heavily on his dangerous left hook. Though Ruddock quit sparring 10 days before the bout, his trainers denied speculation that he re-injured his right arm. He slightly fractured it last year. After the fight, Ruddock's trainers said they tried to hide the injury, but the arm was hurt again.

Ruddock expects to use his left jab and right hand more effectively.

"I went in preparing to use one specific shot," Ruddock said. "It was so successful in the past, but he was prepared for it. This time, I'm ready to use both hands."